Ashley Lloyd Thompson: One of the only female surfboard shapers in the world - Santa Cruz County Stories

SANTA CRUZ -- Much of Ashley Lloyd Thompson's life has revolved around surfboards.

A surfer since age 8, Lloyd Thompson began competing at 15 and eventually rose through the professional ranks as a longboarder, all the while teaching surfing on the side.

But Lloyd Thompson's expertise isn't just limited to what she can do on a surfboard. She began shaping boards in 2002 and founded Ashley Lloyd Surfboards in 2005.

As fellow surfers and shapers frequently tell her, Lloyd Thompson is the only female surfboard shaper in Santa Cruz County and is one of a few in the world.

"People tell me I'm the only female surfboard shaper in the world doing it as a business," Lloyd Thompson said. "I have met women who have shaped one board, but I don't know of any other women who are in business doing it. I met a sculptor in San Diego named Dessa Kirk who makes boards, but I don't know if it's a business for her. I'm sure there has to be more women out there."

Born and raised in Southern California, Lloyd Thompson, 32, said she was approached in Malibu in 2002 by a surfboard shaper who was specifically looking for a woman to teach how to shape.

"Danny Tarampi was my mentor," said Lloyd Thompson, who moved to Santa Cruz in 2005. "He had taught men how to shape, but he and everyone else hadn't ever heard of a female shaper. I was interested in boards he was making, and one day he asked me if I might be interested in learning how to shape."

With much trial and error as well as Tarampi's guidance, Lloyd Thompson honed her craft.

Known for her longboards, Lloyd Thompson also produces mid-range boards and is learning how to do high-performance shortboards. Two of her designs are produced by Bing Surfboards in Encinitas: the Ashley Lloyd Signature model and the Dear and Yonder model -- but the majority of her work is through custom orders with prices ranging from $600-$1,200.

She has her boards glassed at Stretch Boards in Santa Cruz and considers a number of shapers in the area as mentors including Steve Coletta of Natural Curves Surfboards. Lloyd Thompson recently took on a female apprentice of her own, Santa Cruz's Chloe Vetterli, 18.

Lloyd Thompson has also worked as a musician the past few years. She married fellow surfer Alex Thompson in June and shares songwriting and lead vocal duties with him in their band, The Shapes.

A Pleasure Point resident with a shaping studio on the Westside, Lloyd Thompson estimates her clientele at 50-50 in terms of gender.

"I love boards that are pink and have flowers on them and think they're fun, but that is definitely not what I do with a lot of my boards," Lloyd Thompson said. "I think women seek me out because I am a woman and I'm relatable and approachable, but more and more men are ordering my boards because they like the shapes and the aesthetics.

"Just think about it: You don't enjoy food more just because a man or a woman cooks it -- it's about the food."

BORN: June 5, 1980, in NorthridgeJUST MARRIED: Wed Alex Thompson on June 16.EDUCATION: Graduated from Newbury Park High in Ventura County in 1998 and Santa Barbara City College with an associate's degree in music in 2002.BELOVED NEIGHBORS: Frosty and Zeuf Hesson. 'They're like my best friends, my second set of parents and my life guides.'SURFING CAREER: 'I learned to surf when I was 8. I first competed as an amateur at 15. I eventually became ranked No. 5 in the world in longboard in 2002. I'll still compete locally.'TEACHING CAREER: 'I first taught surfing when I was 17. That's been my longest career. I had my own small surf camp in Malibu called Surf Days with Ashley.'SURF HER BOARDS: Professional surfers Julie Cox and Cori Schumacher, a three-time longboard world champion; ASP commentator Joe Turpel; Neal Casal, guitarist of the Chris Robinson Brotherhead; Frosty and Zeuf Hesson.DESTINATION: JAPAN: 'I was invited to Tokyo for the launch of a new surf magazine so the Japanese could see a female shaper for the first time. I had never shaped in front of more than two or three people; there were 1,300 people at this party. I was pretty nervous. Afterward, I played music.'MUSICAL INCLINATIONS: Began playing acoustic guitar and writing songs at 18. Learning how to play upright bass and electric bass. Has released three independently produced CDs, the first two as a solo artist, the most recent in 2012 as part of the band The Shapes, which includes her husband. 'We call our style Beachside Americana. It's kind of indie folksy rock. Our goal is to go on tour next year.'CONTACT: ashleylloydsurfboards.com, ashleylloydmusic@mac.com, theshapesmusic.com.